Yank pick coming off elbow surgery

ANAHEIM —The Yankees went for pitching in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft, taking Clarke Schmidt, a 21-year-old righty out of the University of South Carolina, with the No. 16 overall selection.

Schmidt had Tommy John surgery in early May. He went 4-2 with a 1.34 ERA in nine starts in his junior year before tearing his UCL in late April. He struck out 70 in 60.1 innings while holding hitters to a .194 batting average. “Schmidt was 94-97 with life, a big action changeup, and a hard but short breaking ball, but he had a rough, shotput-like arm action and blew out his elbow in April,” ESPN draft expert Keith Law wrote.

Yankees rookie southpaw Jordan Montgomery also went to South Carolina. A look at the Yanks’ recent first-rounders: 2016: Blake Rutherford (18): The 20-year-old center fielder is hitting .280/.355/.394 at Class A Charleston.

2015: James Kaprielian (16): The 23-year-old righty is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

2015: Kyle Holder (30): The 23-year-old shortstop is hitting .187/.232/.242 at Class A Tampa. 2014: None 2013: Eric Jagielo (26): Third baseman is hitting .233/.347/.356 for Double-A Pensacola. Jagielo was traded to Cincinnati in the Aroldis Chapman deal.

2013: Aaron Judge (32): The 25-year-old right fielder has set the baseball world ablaze and is a contender to capture both AL Rookie of the Year and MVP honors.

2013: Ian Clarkin (33): The 22-year-old lefty is 3-3 with a 2.49 ERA for Class A Tampa.